Indore High Court Resumes Proceedings in Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque Case
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday resumed hearings in the long-standing Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque dispute. Proceedings saw an independent petitioner present a detailed argument, drawing extensively from ancient texts and government archaeological records to assert that the contested site was historically a prominent centre of learning known as ‘Saraswati Kanthabharan’.
Ancient Texts and ASI Records Presented as Evidence
Advocate Manish Gupta, representing petitioner Kuldeep Tiwari, submitted a comprehensive compilation of published material from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) alongside books authored by the legendary Raja Bhoj Dev. Through these references, Gupta sought to establish that the site originally housed a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, featuring an idol of Vagdevi with architectural characteristics unique to the Parmar dynasty.
Arguing before the bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi, Gupta specifically cited Raja Bhoj's architectural treatise, Samrangan Sutradhar—a work spanning 89 chapters on various building styles. "Raja Bhoj authored numerous books on subjects ranging from architecture and human sciences to geography. This vast knowledge indicates it was cultivated through a dedicated centre of learning, which produced such a learned king," he submitted to the court.
Architectural and Iconographic Evidence Detailed
Gupta further referenced established historical texts to argue that the Vagdevi idol was crafted on the express orders of Raja Bhoj. "The idols and temple architecture were peculiar to the Parmar dynasty," he stated, noting that Bhojshala, like other Parmar-era temples, was constructed on raised foundations rather than the deep foundations typical of other architectural traditions—a structural distinction he presented as highly significant.
On the critical question of dating the stone structures, Gupta pointed to the iconography of the idols, specifically the intricate jewellery carved on the Vagdevi figure. He asserted this jewellery mirrors patterns found on other confirmed Parmar dynasty idols. "Since carbon dating is not possible on inorganic material like stone, this stylistic similarity is a key method to ascertain the origin of such structures. The Vagdevi jewellery clearly shows it was built during the Parmar era," he explained to the bench.
Rare Idol and Inscription Patterns Highlighted
Gupta also brought to the court's attention a Brahma idol unearthed during excavations at the site. He described this idol as exceptional for depicting Lord Brahma in his prime youth and produced documents indicating it, too, was commissioned by Raja Bhoj.
Furthermore, the advocate highlighted a rare inscription style known as ‘Sarpbandhi,’ found at Bhojshala and only two other known locations: the Juna Mahakal temple within the Shri Mahakaleshwar temple complex, and the Choubara temple in Oon village in the Nimar region. "Both were temples with connected centres of learning. The Juna Mahakal temple was situated near a centre for Tantra Kriya learning, and Choubara temple also hosted an ancient school," he said, using this unique pattern to reinforce his argument about Bhojshala's historical identity as a scholarly institution.
Next Hearing Scheduled
The court has fixed April 15 as the next date for hearing, when the petitioner's arguments are set to continue. The case continues to draw significant attention for its historical, archaeological, and cultural implications regarding the disputed site's origins and identity.
